Falling Leaves

The other day I was having a conversation with someone whom I love dearly. They are tired and worn out. Too much to do, not enough time for rest and meditation. Too many things on their mind, too many choices to make…all of this wipes a person out. I know how it feels, as I have been there so many times. And I’m sure most of you have too.

So many of us live with such high expectations of life. What is it we should be doing at a certain age. What we think we need to accomplish to be acceptable in society, or in our peer group…or in our church. We know that goals are great to have, and are healthy to have as well. They are there to motivate us, to guide us when we don’t see the big picture, and so we need them. But what happens when our goals and dreams overwhelm us? We have been striving, and things start to stagnate or fall apart? Just when we see something happening, we fall down and can’t go any further? And we start to doubt?

Close to the end of our talk, I had a clear picture of what it looks like. I was trying to encourage this person by telling them that they had nothing to fear. They weren’t losing touch with life, themselves…or God!! They were just in need of a rest. They were like a tree with deep roots, but the leaves where just falling off. It didn’t mean that they were going backwards, it just meant that they need a time for rest and rejuvenation…just like a tree that needs to lose it’s leaves in order to rest and grow stronger.

It’s important to have these roots. Those roots are what keep us strong and firm when doubts or a crisis hits. We can lose our leaves in the storms of life, but our foundations can’t be shaken.

What gives us roots? For me it has been learning to accept myself and my limitations. Knowing who I am as a person, and who I am in Christ. Learning the Word and His promises, and holding them close to my heart. Forgiving, and giving grace to ourselves and to others, this brings strength. And most of all, I think that understanding how life works, with all of its ups and downs, gives me hope that there is always a new beginning around a corner. After losing a few leaves (marbles), they always come back…and they have always been worth losing in order to learn what I learned.

As I was thinking about the leaves, trees and roots, I remembered an old childhood song…here it is, see if it brings back anything for you! If anything, the words are so true….

Storms are sure to pass!!!

Like A Tree